The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-12-24
From Washington. News Notes.
cial 70 the CARpoN ApvNoArE.


WASHINGTON D. g., Dec. 10.
Mr.. EDITOR: The question as to the
establishment of postal telegraph system
pi omses to be ore of the leading issues in
the present Congress. The Senate has
adopted resolution providing for the APP
pointment of select committee to consider
The question. The friends of the measure
fully realize that they will meet with oppo-
,ition at every point from the gigantic tele
graph monopolies whose business will be
seriously crippled should the Government
establish lines of its own. The bill that
has been introduced provides for an appro
lration of 50, 100000 to commence opera
lions; and, should the measure become a
law. work upon the lines will be commenced
1t once.
An unusually large number of bills have
been introduced in the Senate during thu
past week, and large majority of them are
''od timers" whose titles have become
familiar from their discussion in former
Congresses. Many of the bills are Of a pri-
vate nature; while among the more i'm
portant bills of a public nature, may be
mentioned Mr.. Beck's proposition to retire
he United States legal-tender and bank
notes of large denominations and the issue
of coin certificates. Mr. Dolph's measure
repeating the pre-emption and timber-cul-
lure laws and a bill appropriating S126,-
100000 in II years for the construction OF
Notifications and sea-coast defences.
1t is probable that Washington will soon
he provided with a rapid-transit connection
with the northern snd northwestern
suburbs. Since President Cleveland pur-
chased his country residence on the Ten
nalytown road, there have been extensive
| improvements in that directian and many
valuable residences have been erected at a
distance from the city limits. A company
has recently been formed with the purpose
of constructing an elevated railway, which
| it is proposed to have follow route lead
ing through some of the principal streets OF
the city, and thence to the north-wester
suburbs. The company has applied TO Con
gress for its incorporation and it is an
nounced that work will be commenced al
once, if sanctioned by Congress.
1t may be of interest to some TO know how
Uncle Sam gets rid of the unclaimed articles
hat pass through the mails. They are sent
10 the "dead letter Office" here, and, If
there are no marks upon them to designate
the senders, they are laid aside until just
before Christmas, when all that have ac-
cumulated during the year are done up in
bundles and auctioned off to the highest
bidder II takes about a week 10 dispose
of the goods and the bundles are sold at the
rate of four a minute. The bundles are all
numbered and catalogues giving partial
description Of their contents, are freely dis.
tribuled before the sale begins. Here are
a few extracts from the catalogue OF the
sale which is just closing:
Ga. 1-2 yds. sash ribbon, two lady's
necktes and hair pin.
1864. Cheap retcule, damaged apron
cheap handkerchief, @ yds cheese cloth, box
of sea shells.
343S. Damaged pocket knife, cheap Jew
elry, broken spectaces, cigars.
3l6S. Small plane, fret-saw blades, :
combination holders and bits, cheap pocket
knives, doz. lamp wicks.
The average price received is about fifty
p cents.
On Wednesday evening a reception wa'
given by the citizens Of Washington. to two
= distinguished members of the Irish Paria
mentary party, Hon. Arthur O'Connor ant
Sir Thomas Henry GIattan- -Esmonde. Th'
reception was attended by prominent mel
p of both political parties, all slauneh sup
porters of our free system of government
! who gave assurance Of their hearty sympa
thy with the Irish Patriots in their struggl,
against the might and power of BIitisl
Toryism. IL.